Improvement in sleeve-buttons



L. S. B'EA L S. Sleeve-Bun ons.

N0.\53,525L v I PatentedJuly 28,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

LEONARD S. BEALS, OF.ASTORIA, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SLEEVE-BUTTONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,525, dated July 28,1874; application filed March 6, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

, vented a new and useful mode of Manufacturing Sleeve-Buttons, Studs,and kindred arti cles, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to anew and improved mode of manufitcturingsleeve-buttons, studs, and kindred articles, which are formed from partsstruck up from sheet metal; and the principal feature of the inventionconsists in surrounding the head of an ordinary plated button with .arini or border raised above the head of the button, and constructedsubstantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter indicated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 represent plan andsectional views of the completed button or stud, in which m is thecentral portion, and a n the rim or border. Figs. 5 and 4 are plan andsectional views of the under or convex surface of the rim or border,Fig. 4, showing section ofthe concavity ofsame. Figs. 5 and 6 are planand sectional views of the upper part of the rim or border. Figs. 7 and8 are plan and sectional views of the central portion of the button orstud, in which a is the shoe, 1) the post, and 0 the head. Figs 9 and 10are plan and sectional views of the upper plate of the central portionof the button. Figs. 11 and 12 are plan and sectional views of thecompleted rim or border. Figs. 13 and 14 are plan and sectional views ofthe under part of the head of the central portion, when such head ismade of two parts. Figs. 15 and 1.6 are plan and sectional views of thebutton when the contour of its upper portion is rectangular.

The central portion of the button or stud may be made in the usualmanner; and consists of the shoe to, the post I), and the head 0, asrepresented in Fig.8 of the drawings. The head, whenever it is desiredto have both the upper and under surfaces thereof plated, is composed ofan upper and under sheet or plate of metal, the upper plate having anarrow eveled flange turned downward and outward, o the lower edge ofwhich flange the periphry of the lower plate is united, thus forming ahollow disk, which constitutes the central portion of the head of thebutton. These parts are shown in Figs. 9 and 10, 13 and 14, of thedrawings. This head, instead of being hollow, may be filled with lead,solder, or other like substance, either before or at the time of unitingthe upper and under plates. When, however, it is desired to have onlythe upper face of the central portion of the head of the button plated,a single thickness of metal may be used, a beveled flange being turneddownward and outward, as before described. The rim or border of thebutton is composed of two parts. The lower (shown in Figs. 3 and 4 ofthe drawings) is made from a fiat ring of metal struck up by means ofdies, and thus forms a concavo-convex ring, of such construction that,when in position, it is concave from above and convex from below, itsinner and outer edges being raised above the intermediate portion whichforms the concavity, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The convex orouter surface of this rim may be thinly plated, but its concave surfaceis to be covered with a thin flat ring of solid or heavilyplated gold orsilver, having its exterior and interior diameters respectively equal tothe diameters of the lower part of the rim or border upon its upperedges, so that such upper part,when placed upon the lower part of therim, shall rest upon the edges of the lower part and extend from theoutside of the outer edge to the outside of the inner edge of such lowerpart, and thus entirely cover the concavity and the two edges thereof.The flat ring which constitutes the upper part of the rim or border isfirmly united to the upper edges of the lower part of the rim or border,thus forming the completed hollow rim or border, as shown in Figs. 11and 12 of the drawings. When, however, it is desired the lower part ofthe rim or border may be filled with lead, solder, or other likesubstance, and then the upper and lower parts may be united. Thediameter of the circular. opening of the rim or border is shortest inthe plane of the upper surface of the rim or border, and at that pointis less than the diameter of the upper face of the central portion ofthe button before described, so that when the rim or border is inposition, and the central portion is introduced from below into the rim,the rim, by reason of its smaller diameter, will not permit the centralportion to pass up through far enough to rise to the level with theupper surface of the rim, but will be arrested in a lower parallel planeby the contact of the beveled edge or flange of the central portion withthe convex surface of the rim, the construction of the parts being suchthat the beveled edge is, throughout its whole extent, in intimatecontact with such convex surface when the parts are in their finalposition.

The several above -described parts, which compose the completed buttonor stud, may be united by brazing or soldering, or by any of theordinary methods in practice among jewelers for such purposes.

It will readily be perceived that, by reason of the elevation of theupper surface of the rim or border above the plane of the centralportion, the face or upper surface of the central portion will be almostperfectly protected from the wearing, rubbing, and abrasion to which theupper surfaces of buttons of the usual construction are subjected, sothat, in buttons constructed by this process, or in this mode, if thecentral portion is covered with a very thin plating of gold or silver,the upper part of the rim or border being made of gold or silver, orhaving its upper surface heavily plated therewith, the central portion,byreason of the protection thus aiforded, will retain its luster andbrilliancy fully as long, if not longer, than the upper surface of therim or border, while there is an absolute saving of the precious metalswhich must otherwise be employed. So, also, the outer convex surface ofthe rim or border, by reason of its de cided inward slope from the upperedge of the rim downward, is but slightly exposed to wear and abrasion,the sharp upper edge being of gold or silver, or heavily platedtherewith, acting as a constant protection thereto; hence such convexsurface can be covered with a very thin plating of precious metals andremain in perfect condition nearly, if not quite, as long as the uppersurface of the rim or border.

Instead of the several parts which form the rim or border and the headof the central part of the button being struck up in circular forms, ashas been described, they may be struck up with varying outlines, so thatthe head of the completed button or stud shall be elliptical, oblong,diamond, square, or rectangular in form, which last is shown in Figs. 15and 16 of the drawing.

What is claimed as new is 1. A stud or button, com posed of two partsacentral part and a rim or border-the two being united by means ofcorresponding inclined faces, in such a manner, substantially as shown,as to raise the face of the border above the face of the center, for thepurpose set forth.

2. Astud or button, composed of two partsa center and a rim orborder--the latter of which consists of a body covered by its faceplate,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A stud or button, in which the central part is surrounded by aseparate rim or border, the outer surface of which slopes inward fromthe face toward the axial line of the button, substantially as and forthe purpose indicated.

LEONARD S. BEALS.

Witnesses:

R0131. H. DUNCAN, BENJ. A. SMITH.

